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enDortmunds Subotic rejects Serbia call-upNeven Subotic will not make his international return with Serbia this month, coach Radovan Curcic has revealed.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-rejects-serbia-call
The Borussia Dortmund central defender has not featured for his country since 2013, when heexpressed his frustration at their failureto qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
Subotic has since suffered a serious knee injury, buthas nevertheless made 15 Bundesliga starts for Dortmund this season.
Discussions with Curcic – and Serbian Football Association vice-president Savo Milosevic – took place after Dortmund's 3-0 win over Schalke on Saturday, yetthe 26-year-old will not feature in Serbia's squad to face Portugal in Euro 2016 qualifying later this month.
"After a sincere dialogue, it is clear that Subotic is not ready to return at the moment," said Curcic."The talk with Subotic was just one of many withthose who lead the many potential teams.
"The match against Portugal is almost upon us and to me it is important to know which players I have so I can prepare for the upcoming duel.
"Serbia has several options in all places and it is up to me to choose the best one for achieving our ambitions."
Subotic has left the door open to feature for his country again, but will first focus on overcoming any doubts about his troublesome knee.
"It is still important to work on a full recovery from the severe injuries that I had last season that saw me take a nine-month break from football," he said.
"It is true that I came back and am playing, but still I do daily exercises to strengthen the knee.
"Additional engagement around the national team at this point would not be the best option for my condition."
news_articleMon, 02 Mar 2015 11:20:43 +0000353651 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic wants confidence-boosting Dortmund win​Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic feels a victory over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League will revive their confidence.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-wants-confidence-boosting-victory
Dortmund visit the Turk Telekom Arena in dreadful form in the Bundesliga having lost four of their last five in the German top flight.
By contrast,Jurgen Klopp's men have two wins from two in the Champions League and can take another step towards qualification from Group D with three pointsin Istanbul.
And Subotic believes a decent performance could give Dortmund the self-belief to turn things around domestically.
"We are hopeful, we can fill up confidence with a victory," Serbian defender Subotic told Dortmund's official website.
"In the phase we are in, it would be important to have a sense of achievement once again."
Subotic has been relatively pleased with Dortmund's performances in all competitions this season,but knows they will need to be at their best to take maximum points from Wednesday's tricky away clash.
"We have played good games in the Champions League but in the Bundesliga they were not too bad," he added. "The difference is [in the Bundesliga] the errors have been exploited by our opponents.
"It will be a tough match [against Gala]. We must be especially concentrated.
"We have to give everything to turn the tide. As I said, [we need to] regain self-confidence in a phase where we're not bursting with self-confidence."
news_articleTue, 21 Oct 2014 17:22:44 +0000272523 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic focused on Dortmund over SerbiaNeven Subotic wants to rediscover his best form before returning to the Serbia setup, according to the Borussia Dortmund players agent.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-focused-dortmund-over-serbia
Defender Subotic was left out of Dick Advocaat's squad forEuro 2016 qualifiers with Armenia and Albania, with the Dutchman stating that the centre-back "doesn't like playing for the national team".
However, the 25-year-old's representative Stephen Kelly has responded by stating that Subotic -who only returned to the Dortmund squad in July following a cruciate ligament tear last November -is focused on securing his place in Jurgen Klopp's starting XI after being left on the bench for last Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Hamburg.
"Neven wants to fully focus on BVB [Dortmund]. There are many important games in the upcoming weeks," Kelly told Bild.
"That's just for now. Following his anterior cruciate ligament tear, it makes no sense for Neven to play match after match. He wants to return to his best first."
Subotic has 36 international caps for Serbia, who travel to Yerevan to take on Armenia on Saturday.
news_articleFri, 10 Oct 2014 10:16:38 +0000266098 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comDortmunds misfortune forces Klopp down new avenues – but could give Arsenal a headacheBorussia Dortmund might be depleted ahead of their Champions League opener against Arsenal, but their recent bad luck may be a blessing in disguise,saysAlima Hotakie...Alima Hotakiehttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/dortmunds-misfortune-forces-klopp-down-new-avenues-could-give-arsenal-headache
Visits to the doctor continue for Borussia Dortmund. The injury outbreak still isn't under control. Die Schwarzgelbenonce again have a list of notable absentees against Arsenal in the Champions League.
Marco Reus and Jakub Blaszczykowski are both sidelined for a month. Nuri Sahin possibly two. Ilkay Gundogan is nearing a comeback but not ready, while Mats Hummels and Oliver Kirch haven’t yet reached full fitness.
But the German side have been here before. Last season was hardly easy, yet astonishingly they managed to top their Champions League group after beating Marseille in a nail-biting Group F finale.
While this won't be Dortmund's strongest XI, the team has overcome obstacles at this level in the past. If the remaining able bodies can carry this team until the return of Reus Co., Klopp's men could go far.
They'll face fierce opposition in Arsenal; eager to avoid finishing second and a last 16 death sentence, but also carrying significant injuries in defence. The two sides will meet for the third time in four years.
Arsene Wenger's team are entering intimidating territory, but will be confident after winning at the Westfalenstadion last year. The addition of Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere’s recent form further cement their morale. Battling Galatasaray in a hostile environment will also serve as a huge test for Dortmund, meanwhile, and they would be foolish to let their guards down against Anderlecht.
Meet the new boys
But Jurgen Klopp has added depth and variety at his disposal in newcomers Ciro Immobile, Adrian Ramos, Matthias Ginterand the return of Shinji Kagawa from Manchester United.
Immobile was Serie A's top scorer last season and is determined to impress, but the Italian is still adjusting to Dortmund's style and high tempo. His link-up play in attack also needs work and he often appears to want to make an immediate impact, to the detriment of the team.
On the plus side, the Azzurri international adds directness and physicality, though he lacks the inventiveness, hold-up play and creativity of Robert Lewandowski.
Still, he's strong on the counter and gives Klopp's side more verticality, something that's become more prominent over the seasons since Mario Gotze's exit. To avoid one-dimensional build-up, the return of Kagawa and Reus should provide enough balance with their skills to operate effectively in tight spaces.
Meanwhile Adrian Ramos offers another choice up front and has scored twice in the last three games. Ramos’ best game was probably against Freiburg on Saturday, when he combined smoothly with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Kevin Grosskreutz and Kagawa in attack. Korean Ji Dong-won has yet to start for the black and yellows, and was left out of their Champions League squad.
As for Ginter, his inexperience showed against Leverkusen. He's a versatile and promising player, but still a liability. Overall, the back four has more depth than ever, and Sokratis' form has stood out this season.
Neven Subotic has also recovered, finally giving Klopp options once Hummels returns. Subotic and Sokratis, though, are still a work in progress. They're individually strong, yet when playing together lack positional awareness of one another.
Shinji let loose
But it was the return of the 'lost son' Kagawa that generated the most media hype. When Reus re-injured his ankle, it was a major blow to the club, pushing Kagawa to the forefront a lot sooner than expected.
"We can't wait a few weeks," said Klopp. "I can't say to Shinji: ‘Go sit in the stands. First sniff the atmosphere a bit.’ He is needed."
Although he hasn’t played that many games over the past two seasons, he’s adapted faster than anticipated. No wonder the Japanese international had goosebumps on his debut, after scoring and providing an assist on his comeback. With injuries piling up, this was exactly the sort of performance Dortmund needed.
Klopp's side have the most depth in defensive midfield, but it's also that position which has been hit the hardest with Gundogan, Sven Bender (finally back but only fielded as a sub so far), Sahin and Kirch all injured.
That leaves Milos Jojic and 34-year old Sebastian Kehl to cover most of the ground. The duo don't complement each other, and this remains Dortmund's weak spot. On the plus side, Gundogan is on the road to recovery. He played a full 35 minutes than the planned 15 last week against the club's Under-23s.
SEE ALSOCult hero Kagawa doesn't disappoint on his Dortmund homecoming
Blessing in disguise
Together, the injuries and new players have tactically diversified the black and yellows. Klopp has deviated from his usual 4-2-3-1 and shown no fear in setting up his players in 4-1-3-2 and 4-1-4-1 formations. Most notably, Dortmund used an unconventional 4-4-2 against Real Madrid last season to much success.
The two-striker system remains an option. Recently Klopp tried it against both Leverkusen in the league and Bayern in the Supercup, but results were mixed. It proved effective against Bayern's three-man back-line, yet they struggled to get on the scoresheet in their Bundesliga opener and subsequently lost. It's forced Klopp to use a lone striker up front, rotating Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ramos and Immobile.
The newly acquired versatility is important and gives the team more options and a plan B, something Klopp often received criticism for lacking previously. Even though it evolved more out of necessity than choice, it's worked in their favour.
Hummels also remains an important part of the team. His ability to get involved in attack and set-pieces, not to mention his strength of playing the ball out from the back, is an edge over any opponent.
Reports suggest he'll start training again on Wednesday, but has been ruled out against Arsenal. As have Gundogan, Reus, Sahin, Kuba and Kirch. Once these players come back, regain fitness and the newcomers make a smooth transition, this team could finally find glory on the biggest of stages in European football.
If, of course, the injury bug doesn’t wipe out the entire squad first.
featureTue, 16 Sep 2014 12:30:00 +0000Joe Brewin252906 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comDortmunds Subotic: We all deserve a slapBorussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic said his team deserved a slap for the way they finished their 3-2 win at Augsburg.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-we-all-deserve-slap
Goals from Marcos Reus and Sokratis Papastathopoulos in the opening 14 minutes had Jurgen Klopp's men in control at the SGL Arena on Friday.
Adrian Ramos made it 3-0 in the 78th minute, only for the visitors to endure a nervous finish as Augsburg pulled two goals back.
Subotic said his team deserved to be punished for the way they performed in the final 10 minutes.
"I'm happy that we won, but it was a close call in the end. We didn't really do that well as a team in the closing stages," he said.
"We stopped defending and Augsburg made the most of their chances. We all deserve a slap for those last 10 minutes."
It saw Dortmund bounce back from their 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in their Bundesliga opener.
Reus urged his team to learn from the mistakes they made late in the win over Augsburg, who had Raul Bobadilla and Tim Matavz net late.
"When I scored it was just pure joy. It's been a while since I've found the back of the net and of course we lost last week," he said.
"We reacted well though and played very well in the first half - we did exactly what our coach told us to.
"We lost focus in the second half and let Augsburg back into the game. We have to learn from those mistakes and do better next time."
Augsburg attacker Bobadilla lamented his side's first half, which proved costly in the end.
"I'm a bit disappointed. Dortmund were much better than us in the first half, but we gave everything in the second," the Argentine said.
"We scored two goals, but ultimately it wasn't enough."
news_articleSat, 30 Aug 2014 00:39:16 +0000241724 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comDortmunds Subotic training without painBorussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic is training without pain ahead of his teams DFL Supercup clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-training-without-pain
Subotic has not played a competitive match since he tore two ligaments in his right knee in November last year but claims he is ready to feature ahead of the start of the 2014-15 season.
The Serbian defender revealed on Friday that "it's all looking up" as Dortmund prepare for their final friendly of the close-season against Liverpool, before facing Bayern in Dortmund for the traditional curtain-raiser of the German football calendar.
"I'm doing well. Sometimes it doesn't respond quite as I'd like but I can train without any pain," Subotic told Ruhr Nachrichten.
"I don't think about it anymore and I can commit 100 per cent, which is the most important thing. So, generally, it's all looking up."
Subotic injured his knee in Dortmund's 2-1 loss at Wolfsburg last season but has played in five friendlies during the close-season, indicating he is ready for competitive action.
The 25-year-old is ready to fight for a spot in central defence, arguing Mats Hummels, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Matthias Ginter are ahead of him in the pecking order, as they all played the second half of last season and went to the World Cup.
"It's going to be really difficult. This season, we've got four excellent centre-backs and the other three have played a lot more than me in the last year," Subotic said.
"Two [Hummels and Ginter] won the FIFA World Cup, one [Papastathopoulos] got to the last 16, and I wasn't even playing.
"Having said that, though, there are opportunities for everyone, and the coach will definitely give us all a fair chance. We'll have to wait and see."
A good sign for Subotic is that Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has started the Serbia international in their past four friendlies.
news_articleSat, 09 Aug 2014 02:34:01 +0000227485 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic thrilled to be back for DortmundBorussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic said he struggled to stay focused on his return from a serious knee injury.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-thrilled-be-back
After more than eight months on the sidelines, Subotic came on with 15 minutes remaining in Dortmund's 4-3 friendly win over 2.Bundesliga side Heidenheim on Saturday.
The Serbia international was delighted to be back and hopes to progressively get more game time as he looks to regain match fitness.
"My mind was everywhere," Subotic said.
"I wanted to help the team as good as possible but I have to get accustomed again to play against opponents hurling themselves into tackles.
"It's impossible to create this competitive environment in training. It's a great feeling to be back. It was great fun and I hope I get the opportunity to play a full half in the next game."
Subotic, 25, tore two ligaments in his knee in the Bundesliga in November and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was thrilled to see the centre-back still unafraid to make tough challenges.
"He was grinning like a Cheshire cat, and was immediately in the thick of action. That's Neven," he said.
"He went into every tackle and was fully charged up."
news_articleMon, 21 Jul 2014 03:24:19 +0000215828 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic makes return as Dortmund win thrillerNeven Subotic made his return to action as Borussia Dortmund overcame 2.Bundesliga side Heidenheim 4-3 in a pre-season friendly.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-makes-return-dortmund-win-thriller
The Serbian defender has been out of action since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in a 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg last November.
But the 25-year-old came on with 16 minutes left to play on Saturday, replacing Evans Nyarko in the centre of the Dortmund back four.
And Subotic was able to celebrate a victory on his return as Jurgen Klopp's men came out on the right side of a seven-goal thriller.
Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put visitors Dortmund ahead after 21 minutes, only for strikes from Florian Niederlechner and former Schalke player Robert Leipertz to give Heidenheim a 2-1 lead at half-time.
A second-half double from Dortmund attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, sandwiched by an effort from Heidenheim forward Patrick Mayer, left the match finely poised at 3-3 heading into the closing stages.
It was Dortmund that had the benefit of the game's final twist, though, 21-year-old American Joseph-Claude Gyau popping up in the 85th minute to seal triumph.
news_articleSat, 19 Jul 2014 17:41:30 +0000215118 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic returns to Dortmund trainingNeven Subotic could return for the start of Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga season after returning to training on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-returns-dortmund-training
The defender has spent the last eight months on the sidelines after suffering a knee cruciate ligament injury in a 2-1 defeat against Wolfsburg in November.
Subotic had shown positive signs in his rehabilitation that lifted hopes hemay return before the end of last season, but he did not recover in time to be consideredby Jurgen Klopp.
With Dortmund set to open their Bundesliga campaign against Bayer Leverkusen on August 23 the defender could now provide a welcome boost to his head coach after giving an update on his progress via Facebook.
In a post on his official page the 25-year-old revealed he had taken the first step in returning to action, he wrote: After my eight-month injury break, today I got to train with my team.
Subotic, a Serbia international, was part of the successful Dortmund side that won back-to-back league titles in 2011 and 2012 having formed a solid partnership with central defensive partner Mats Hummels.
news_articleSun, 06 Jul 2014 22:04:40 +0000207794 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comKlopp buoyed by Subotic injury progressBorussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic is making good progress from his cruciate ligament injury, according to coach Jurgen Klopp.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/klopp-buoyed-subotic-progress
The Bundesliga side were hit hard by injuries in the first half of the season, losing Subotic as well as other key figures such as Ilkay Gundogan, Marcel Schmelzer and Mats Hummels.
While Jurgen Klopp's men were able to qualify for the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, they won just one of their six league matches prior to the mid-campaign break and slipped to fourth in the table.
However, Klopp has been boosted by the return to training of Gundogan and Schmelzer, who suffered back and heel injuries respectively, while he is also upbeat regarding Subotic's recovery.
"It's almost like you only need to take the splint away from him, and Neven is able to kick the ball again. Unfortunately, that's not the case yet," Klopp told Dortmund's official website.
"Neven is making good progress. He has another crucial examination on Thursday, and then we will know more about his recovery.
"We want (Hummels) to use the next two weeks to catch up on his fitness."
Klopp also stated his confidence that striker Robert Lewandowski, who agreed a deal on Saturday to join Bayern Munich when his contract expires at the end of the season, will focus on his current employers for the remainder of the campaign.
"It was (the) best time to do what had to be done, during the winter break," he added.
"We had known for some time that Robert would leave us. His full focus will now again be on Borussia."
news_articleMon, 06 Jan 2014 15:31:01 +0000101428 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comBroken Dortmund determined as ever to halt Bayern machineAs if taking on Bayern wasnt difficult enough, injury problems have hit Borussia Dortmund hard before Saturdays klassiker. Pete Sharland looks ahead to one of Jürgen Klopps most daunting fixtures of his five-year tenure...Peter Sharlandhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/broken-dortmund-determined-ever-halt-bayern-machine
Fighters take your places: round two is about to commence. For the second time this season Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola lock horns as Germany’s top two sides go head to head - although this time the stakes are much, much higher.
While July's DFL-Supercup (won 4-2 by Dortmund) was important in striking the first psychological blow of the season, this game could end up shaping the entire title race. If Bayern win they go seven points clear and the odds of them recording back-to-back titles will shorten considerably. If, however, Dortmund can take all three points then the gap will be down to one and we're back with an open field.
So this probably wasn't the best time for Klopp's side to suffer the mother of all defensive crises. Before the international break centre-back Neven Subotic was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, but now partner Mats Hummels is sidelined until January with ankle ligament damage and left-back Marcel Schmelzer is out for three weeks with a calf problem.
Combine this with first-choice right-back Lukasz Piszczek playing only half an hour of football (in a hastily arranged friendly on Tuesday) since the Champions League final last season and Dortmund’s defensive woes become even more alarming.
It looks like the Poland international could be rushed into first-team action for Saturday’s clash. That likelihood probably increased when news broke that Bayern danger man Franck Ribéry would also miss the game after cracking a rib in France's play-off win over Ukraine. Still, predicting the Dortmund backline isn't easy. Youngster Erik Durm suffered an injury on duty with Germany's U21s and, aside from summer signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos and utility man Kevin Großkreutz, there are no certainties.
Depending on Piszczek’s fitness his compatriot Jakub Blaszczykowski could be asked to fill in at right-back, while teenagers Koray Günter and Marian Sarr could both be in line for a start.
So it's safe to this isn't good news for Dortmund - how unlucky can you get ahead of arguably your biggest game of the season? Klopp must ensure his team is extremely organised and alert to Bayern’s attacking prowess. His best bet may turn out to be sending his team out with a view to scoring more than Bayern, although that may well backfire disastrously.
For all Klopp's charm, charisma and obvious talent as a manager, he and his team (like any other) are powerless to stave off an injury crisis. A team like Bayern though, of course, have far greater depth than their rivals. At centre-back alone Bayern could play Jerome Boateng, Dante, Daniel van Buyten, Jan Kirchhoff, Holger Badstuber and Javi Martinez. That’s without even mentioning Philipp Lahm who, let’s be honest, could easily do a job there.
Bayern are a machine built for the accumulation of trophies. Another treble is very much on the cards, and while Dortmund’s attempts to tame the beast are extremely noble, it feels like they may be futile. The disparity between the two sides will only increase if Robert Lewandowski chooses to join Bayern at the end of the season.
Losing both Lewandowski and wonder boy Mario Götze in the space of a year would be hard; losing them to your title rivals is just cruel. Yet there's a sense that Klopp is prepared and knows what he will do if Lewandowski should leave, just like he did with Götze. Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been an inspired signing for a far lower fee than the one they received for his playmaking predecessor.
Klopp has proved himself to be extremely resourceful, but the affable former Mainz chief needs to be at his inventive best if he is to lead Dortmund to victory on Saturday. Stopping Bayern might be about as easy as taking on Carol Vorderman at Countdown, but there's no one better placed in Germany to do itthan these affable adventurers from the north.
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featureFri, 22 Nov 2013 11:00:00 +0000Joe Brewin86716 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comDortmund confirm Subotic cruciate ligament fearsBorussia Dortmund have confirmed defender Neven Subotic will be out for at least six months after tearing cruciate ligaments in his knee.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/dortmund-confirm-subotic-cruciate-ligament-fears
Subotic sustained the injury during Dortmunds 2-1 defeat at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday as he landed awkwardly following a first-half collision with Ivica Olic.
The Serbia international defender was replaced by Sokratis Papastathopoulos and taken for an MRI scan to reveal the full extent of the injury.
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said after the game that it looked like Subotic may have severely damaged his knee, and the club confirmed the extent of his problem later on Saturday.
Neven Subotic is injured for the rest of the season, a statement said on Dortmunds official website. The central defender tore the posterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament tear in his right knee.
According to team doctor Markus Braun, the 25-year-old will be out for at least six months.
Subotic, 24, also took to his official Facebook page to confirm the results of his scan.
Sadly I did not get good news regarding my injury, he wrote. 2 of my ACLs are torn. But no worries, I will be back stronger, he wrote.
news_articleSat, 09 Nov 2013 23:03:15 +000082423 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic suffers suspected cruciate ligament injuryBorussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected cruciate ligament tear on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-suffers-suspected-cruciate-ligament-injury
Subotic was substituted a minute before the break in Dortmund's 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg after landing awkwardly following a collision with Ivica Olic.
The Serbia international will undergo an MRI scan to determine the extent of the injury, with coach Jurgen Klopp explaining he has "probably torn the cruciate ligament", adding that the injury is "terrible news".
On the match itself, Klopp was left frustrated, citing minor incidents that went against his side - along with a superb strike from Olic - as the main reason behind the defeat.
"It was a tight game in the first half where we had some, but too few, good moments," he told the club's official website.
"We gave away too many free-kicks, which allowed the opposition some practice in taking them.
"Olic's goal was a dream. It should have been blocked, but that didn't happen.
"We have tried everything, but in tight situations, everything went against us."
news_articleSat, 09 Nov 2013 19:31:36 +000082368 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic confident of Dortmund progressionBorussia Dortmunds Neven Subotic is confident of qualifying from the UEFA Champions League group stages, despite losing to Arsenal.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-sure-dortmunds-champions-league-progression
Jurgen Klopp's side - who finished runners-up to Bayern Munich last season in both Europe and the Bundesliga - were undone by Aaron Ramsey's close-range header at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.
The result leaves Dortmund three points adrift of Group F leaders Arsenal and Napoli in second place, leaving a difficult task to ensure progression to the round of 16.
But Serbia international defender Subotic backed Dortmund to bounce back from the disappointing setback and reach the knockout phase by beating Napoli and Marseille in their remaining fixtures.
"This was a really, really important game for us," he said. "There are only six group games and we've now lost two of them.
"It would have been good at least to have picked up a point. We can rectify things, however, providing we win our next home game against Napoli.
"Then we'll have every chance of qualifying, it's still very open in the group."
Ramsey's goal came after a knockdown from Olivier Giroud left Subotic disappointed with the manner in which Dortmund conceded.
"The deep cross comes in towards Olivier Giroud, he nods it down, and it's left to Ramsey to poke it in from a few yards out.
"Everyone knows that with players like Bacary Sagna and Mesut Ozil, Arsenal are more than capable of whipping dangerous balls into the box, and that Giroud is very strong in the air.
"We were perhaps a little asleep, and had a reminder of exactly how good you have to be in the Champions League. Every mistake is punished."
news_articleThu, 07 Nov 2013 11:55:04 +000081514 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSubotic delighted with unexpected victoryBorussia Dortmunds Neven Subotic has claimed his team-mates were not expecting anything from their UEFA Champions League tie with Arsenal.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/subotic-delighted-unexpected-victory
The Bundesliga outfit clinched a 2-1 victory on Tuesday courtesy of a late Robert Lewandowski goal, after Olivier Giroud had cancelled out HenrikhMkhitaryan's 16th-minute opener.
Subotic claimed the victory was unexpected, adding that Arsenal were not at their fluent best.
"We are obviously very happy with the three points. We came here not expecting anything but hoping for the best obviously," he said.
"As the game progressed we always wanted more and more. I don't think Arsenal were playing their best football, they were trying to play pretty safe.
"They felt they were going to score one goal more than us through their patience and through their play, but we ran a lot and defended very well and had some great chances."
Lewandowski's goal was his 10th in all competitions this season, with Bayern Munich reported as a likely destination for the Pole when his contract finishes at the end of the season.
Subotic felt his team-mate deserved the goal for his workrate against Arsenal's defensive pairing of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.
"(The winning goal) was a huge relief," he continued.
"(Lewandowski) had to fight for 85 minutes to get his goal and he definitely deserved it because it was a tough fight for him against Mertesacker and Koscielny and I'm happy for him.
news_articleWed, 23 Oct 2013 07:43:47 +000076356 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com